crown, and the white spot on the hind-head ; the crown in 
palustris is of a dull sooty black, and this latter species 
rather exceeds in size. In their general habits all the spe- 
cies agree, but these two nearly allied species most particu- 
larly so ; they both build in holes in trees or walls ; their 
tiests and eggs correspond, the former in materials and 
texture, and the latter in size, markings, and number. 
The Cole MOUSE is not so abundant as the Marsh Tit- 
mouse, but frequents the same haunts, usually resorting to 
woody places, in the vicinity of water : it feeds on insects 
and occasionally on grain, and frequently in the summer is 
very injurious in gardens, consuming large quantities of 
the common garden peas, these it removes from the husks 
with incredible celerity : in the winter, it may be observed 
running up and down the branches of trees in search of the 
larva and eggs of insects. 
Its note is a small chirp, or rather squeak, which it is con- 
tinually uttering, and by means of which the brood are kept 
together ; the young keep with the parent birds through the 
Winter, but on the approach of Spring they all separate. 
They are very tenacious of their breeding places, not sutFer- 
ing any other bird to approach them. We once saw a curious 
encounter between a male Pied Fly-catcher and one of this 
species : the Fly-catcher had taken possession of a hole in 
a willow tree, from which the Colemouse was endeavour- 
ing to eject him, but eventually failed, as, after spending 
nearly the whole of one day in trying to force an entrance, 
and so to drive the possessor out, it gave up the attempt ; 
and we afterwards learnt that the Fiy-catcher built in tlje 
hole, and brought up its brood. 
